Ever been frustrated by non-teacher friends telling you how lucky you are to have ‘all those holidays’? We’re sure you have. What they’ll struggle to understand is just how full on the rest of the year is. Next time you come under attack from unhelpful comments, why not use our 9 Reason’s Why you really deserve half term to help put your point across…
- Not your average 9 to 5
In fact, it’s far from it. The Teacher Wellbeing Index 2018 is heralded as one of the most influential reports ever to have been published about wellbeing in the education sector. This states that 29% of teachers work more than 51 hours per week, cramming in a couple of hours before class in the morning, as well as giving up time for marking and planning at home in the evenings and at the weekend. With standard full-time hours being around 37-40 per week, this fact alone is enough to allow you a few weeks off a year.
- Coughs and sneezesOn average, school age children have between two and four coughs and colds a year. Multiply that by the number of children you teach or come in to contact with every day and it’s no wonder you’re ready to retreat, anti-bac in hand, to the sanctuary of your house for a few days each term.
- Give them a show!
Teaching is essentially a day long performance, every working day. Standing in front of 30 children, imparting wisdom that they most likely won’t listen to, for 6 hours a day would send any normal person in to meltdown. Give yourself a round of applause!
- Toilet breaks!
Not many professions require a schedule for visiting the loo. The holidays provide a chance to work to your own schedule and visit the – ahem – facilities any time you choose. Luxury.
- Jack of all trades
Far from being just one job, teaching often requires the donning of a multitude of hats throughout the day. Social worker, doctor, personal trainer, counsellor, business manager, data analyst and dare we say it… police officer to name but a few. A well-earned break will allow you to focus on being just one person at a time. Lucky you.
- Alan Sugar you are not
Some higher-level teaching posts can command a larger salary, but it is fair to say that most of the teaching and support staff in the public sector are never going to be millionaires. A well-earned break will give you a chance to visit the bank if nothing else…
- Time for ‘life stuff’
Unlike your private sector friends, you can’t take time off in term time to do any of the standard day-to-day stuff like visit the dentist or the hairdresser. In any half term holiday we bet there are at least a couple of days of catching up on the mundane home things, especially if you have a family. Make sure you book an appointment for a spa day too. You deserve it.
- More zzzz’s please
According to www.educationsupport.org.uk 76% of employees in the education sector in 2018 experienced ‘behavioural, psychological or physical symptoms due to their work, compared to 60% of UK employees’. There is myriad research linking stress to insomnia, making it especially difficult for teachers to slog it through the day. Holidays provide a well needed chance to hide under the duvet and catch up on some kip.
- Dealing with other people’s children…all of the time
No one enters the teaching profession without a love for young people, but not many parents could hand-on-heart say that they would be happy to deal with other people’s children, day-in-day out, all year long. Hat’s off to you for this alone.
If you’d like to read other articles from our 9 Reason’s Why Series, pop over to our blog at www.paperplusuk.com/news
